Electric switch



F a G.. Z.

|61/ (Wins Lls Las L7 ELECTRIC SWITCH c. H. SCHNEIDER Filed Aug. e, 195e Sept. 6, 1938.

lNvENToR ATTo NEY.-

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 ELECTRIC SWHTCH Charles H. Schneider, Potluoinock, Conn. Applicants August 6, icas, sensi Ns. 94,579

. 13 Claims.

My invention relates to electric switches.

It has among its objects to provide an improved electric switch and, more particularly, to provide an improved switch especially adapted to control 5 door opening and closing mechanism, and'one which weather conditions. A further object oi my invention is to provide such an improved switch having improved' lswitch opening and closing i() mechanism including improved actuating mechanism therefor and improved controlling mechanism therefor. Other objects of my invention include the provision of improved knife switch swinging mechanism operative to open or close the switch in different positions of an operating member and having improved electrically controlled controlling mechanism automatically operative to hold said operating member in a predetermined position of the same and the switch and operative at will to release said member and return it to its initial position while again operating the switch. Still further objects rof my in.- vention include the-provision of such a rnechanism which may be inexpensively produced and readily and conveniently connected in an irnproved inanner. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of this form of my improvements, the switch being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the switch in open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line -d of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Fig. 6 is a like sectional view on line 6i-'5 of 5 Figure l.

In this illustrative construction I have shownl my invention applied to use in connection with a door controlled switch disposed in a casing generally indicated at I and having an operating plunger 2 projecting out of this casing and adaptedito be moved in opposite directions to operate a switch within the casing through improved switch operating and controlling mechanism hereinafter described.

55 Referring more particularly to this improved is operative with certainty under all (Cl. 26d-NMBS) mechanism, it will be noted -that the casing i is provided with an insulating bottom plate 2a carrying thereon double throw knife switch blades 3 independently pivoted on coaxial pivots at i and provided with suitable terminal connections 5 and adapted to be received in cooperating contacts i5, likewise disposed on the insulating plate 2a and provided with suitable terminal connections l; this knife switch mechanism herein being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the casing i with the pivots d adjacent one end wall thereof. As shown, these knife switch blades il are also operatively connected to the plunger 2 which is reciprocably mounted in apertures in the end walls of the casing in a plane spaced above the knife switch, the plunger being disposed centrally between the blades 3. Herein this plunger also has a suitable adjustable collar il thereon intermediate its ends and within the casing i, adapted to be positioned by a set screw i@ and to provide an abutment for a coiled spring ii disposed around the plunger and acting between this abutment and one end of the casing, in such manner as normally to cause the plunger to he projected into the position shown in Figure l while the spring i i is compressed in the retracted position shown in Figure 2. Herein also, the operative connection between the plunger 2 and the blades 3 is such as to cause the knife switch to be automatically opened or closed as the plunger moves in opposite directions. it will be noted that herein the plunger is provided with slots l2 on opposite sides of the same in front of the collar 9 and that a bell crains i3 has a slotted end providing portions i4 projecting into and slidable in these slots I2, while the bell crank is pivoted at i5 to the base or plate 2a on a suitable bracket i5 suitably attached to the base and disposed centrally between the blades 3 and below the plunger 2. Moreover it will be noted that the other arm Il of this bell crank is shorter than the arm i3 and carries an insulating pin, or pins, i8 projecting in opposite directions laterally from the arm il into longitudinally disposed slots I9 in the blades 3. .These slots herein are disposed slightly more closely adjacent the blade pivots d and are of .such dimensions as to permit the desired movement of the pins and cause the blades 3 to be moved into open or closed position as the plunger 2 is moved reversely. Thus it will be evident that, with the plunger 2 in the position shown in Figure l, the blades 3 will be in their circuit closing position and the spring l i extended, whereas with the plunger 2 lntheposition shown in Figure 2, the

casing surrounding the pin 2li.

36 formed integral with the lever.

the spring will be compressed, while the parts will move into and out oi these positions as the plunger is reclprocated reversely.

Cooperating with this switch and plunger mechanism is improved` mechanism controlling the movement of the plunger and operative to hold the same in one position, herein the in position of the plunger 2, and release it therefrom at will for outward projection by the spring Il.l

This mechanism herein includes a holding pin 23 disposed above the plunger 2 and siidably mounted vertically in a suitable aperture in the end oi the casing nearer the pivots 4. This pin, in turn, is provided with a cut-away portion 22 providing a downwardly extending projection 23 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the plunger 2, herein a round plunger, in the projected position of the plunger shown in Figure l, and also to ride on the plunger as it moves to the right from that position and. then drop into a notch 24 provided in the plunger adjacent the extremity thereof, in such manner as thereupon automatically to hold the plunger in its retracted position shown in Figure 2. Operatively connected to this pin 2l) is also improved mecha nism for releasing the same at will. Herein, this mechanism includes a lever 2li which is pivoted at 26 on depending arms 2l on the under side of a removable cover plate 28, the pivot being shown herein as located at a point nearer the op poslte end of the easing i from the pin 20. Further it will be noted that this lever has a transversely slotted end 30 projecting into a vertical slot 3| in the upper end oi the pin 2l), and that the slot in the end of the lever provides arms extending above and below a transverse pin 32 supported in the walls of the slot 3|, all in such. manner as to raise or lower thc pin 20 as the lever 25 moves about its pivot 26. Herein, it will further be noted that, the lever 25 being pivoted closely adjacent one end` thereofjthis let er normally tends to swing down at its left hard end, i. e., toward latch engaging position, am that it is free to do so since this left hand end is movable in a vertical slot 33 in the portion of the Also suitable means may be provided for insuring this downward movement oi'. the lever, as, for example, by providing a suitable weight 34 formed on. or at tached to thc lever. The opposite end or the lever, i. e., the short end, herein also carries an armature 33 on its under face which extends transversely relative to the body of the lever and herein is carried on the under side of a cross bar This armature 35, in turn, is adapted to cooperate with suitable magnetic operating means, herein the cores Il of a pair of electromagnets 38 suitably carried on a transversely disposed support 39, which is, in turn, supported on the base plate 2a by spacing and supporting spools 40, while the parts are held in assembled relation by screws 4I. Thus, it will be evident that, whenever the plunger 2 is held by the pin 23 in the retracted position shown in Figure 2, it is only necessary to energize the electromagnetic means, herein including the magnets 33, in order to attract the armature 33, and thereby cause the lever 25 to move about its pivot 26 and withdraw the pin 20. Thereupon, the spring il being under compression, the plunger 2 will be projected back into the position shown in Figure I, and during this movement will actuate the bell crank arms I3 and I`| in such manner as to move the switch blades blades will be in their open circuit position and 3 from their open position shown in Figure 2 to their closed position shown in Figure 1.

It will be evident from the above that with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, whewever the plunger 2 is driven in toward the position thereof shown in Figure 2, the switch blades 3 will not onlyr be moved from their closed position shown in Figure l to the open position shown in Figure 2, but the pin 2D will be automatically dropped down so that its end 23 engages .in the opening 24 in the plunger and thereby holds the plunger in its retracted position. However, whenever the eiectromagncts 33 are energized, the lever 25 will be swung about its pivot 2li in such manner as to pull up the pin Ml and thereby release the plunger so that the coiled spring il would then automatically propel the plunger toward the projected position shown in Figure l., the switch blades during such Inovelnent being likewise moved from their open position shown in Figure 2 to their closed position illustrated in Figure 1. fis a result of my improved construction, it will be noted that the mechanism is such as to be certain in operation and in no way ailectecl by irost or the like. iilurther, it will be observed that the action oi the switch blades is such that when the plunger l is pushed in quickly, as would be the case ii same were struck by an opening or closing door, or a part engaged and actuated by such a door movement, the circuit will be broken quickly, whereas the spring li will insure a quick opening of the switch blades 3. Moreover, .it will be observed that as a result oi my improved construction, it is possible for the switch and its wiring and also for the clectrornagnets 3l! to be removed. irom the casing i whenever desired by simply releasing suitable screws 42 connecting the plate te to the bottom of the casing l. Further, it will be evident that, if desired, the entire electrical connections may be made on the plate 2a before the latter is inserted in the casing, and that the plate 2a with the connections thereon may then be inserted in the casing and connested thereto by the screws, the conductors herein being extended through a conductor aperture 43 in one end of the casing. Further, it will be evident that the cover 23 may be separated from the casing i whenever desired as by removing' suitable screws connected in corner apertures 4t, while the whole device may be suitably attached to a support by suitable screws extending through apertures 45 in the edges of the cover plate. Attention is further directed to the exceedingly rugged character of the mechanism, which adapts it to long continued service, and to the further fact that the mechanism is very compact due to my improved disposition oi the parte, in such manner as to enable the unit to be disposed in very restricted spaces. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same may be modied and the' invention embodied in other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a switch mechanism, an enclosing casing, a switch actuating plunger therein projectible through an end wall of said casing and having spring means biasing said plunger into proswitch blade,

plunger and its other arm connected to saidy switch member.

2. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivoted switch member, and pivoted operative connections therebetween for Areversely operating said switch member relative to said plunger upon reverse movements o! said plunger including a bell crank movable about a different pivot from said member and having one arm connected to said plunger and the other connected to said member between the pivot of the bell crank and the pivot of said switch member.

3. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivoted switch member movable relative thereto, positive operative connections therebetween for reversely operating said switch member relative to said plunger upon reverse movements of said plunger including a bell crank, and automatically operative means for holding the parts in one position thereof including a latch cooperating with said plunger.

4. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivoted switch member, operative connections including a bell crank therebetween for reversely operating said switch member about its pivot upon reverse movements of said plunger, means including a lever having a latch for holding said plunger in one position of said switch, and means for projecting said plunger into another position and actuating said switch upon release ot said holding means.

5. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivoted switch member at one side thereof, and latch mechanism controlling said plunger disposed on the opposite side of said plunger from said switchmember, said switch member having pivoted operative connections to' said plunger for reversely operating said switch member upon reverse move- 'ments of said plunger and said switch member comprising a double pole knife switch and having said plunger disposed centrally longitudinally of the blades thereof.

6. In a switch mechanism, a movable switch member comprising parallel pivoted contact members, a switch actuating plunger disposed centrally longitudinally of said contact members, and a bell crank mounted at the iunction of its arms between said pivoted contact members and having one arm operatively connected to said plunger andthe other arm operatively connected to said contact members.

7. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivoted and a bell crank mounted at'the junction of its arms and having one arm operatively oonnected to said plunger and the other arm operatively connected to said blade between the pivots of said blade and bell crank, said operative connections including lost motion connections.

8. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, pivoted switch members having their free ends movable n opposite sides -ot said plunger, and a bell crank mounted at the Junction of its arms between said switch members and having laterally extending oppositely projecting portions on one arm operatively connected to said switch mem-` bers and having the other arm operatively connected to said plunger.

9. In a switch mechanism, a plunger, a pivotedswitch blade, and a bell crank having one arm operatively connected to said plunger und the other arm operatively connected to said blade. the arm connected to said plunger being longer than that connected to said blade and said arms having a slot and pin connection and a yoke connection with said blade and plunger respectively. 10. In a switch mechanism, a casing having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein and a removable base member, and switch mechanism within said casing carried on said base member and removable therewith including a switch and operative connections/between the same and said plunger separable upon removal of said base.

11. In a switch mechanism, a casing having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein and a removable base member, switch mechanism within said casing carried on said base member and removable therewith including a switch and operative connections between the same and said plunger separable upon removal of said base, and latch mechanism controlling said plunger and carried in said casing having electrically controlled controlling means carried on said base and removable therewith. y

12. In an electric switch, a casing having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein, a switch controlled by said plunger and disposedin said casing,r a removable cover on said casing, and latch mechanism controlling said plunger and carried` by said cover and removable with said cover.

i3. In an electric switch. a casing having a plunger reciprccably mounted therein, a switch operatively connected to and controlled by said plunger and disposed in said casing, a removable cover on said casing. latch mechanism controlling said piunger'and carried by said cover and removable with said cover, and a base removably carried on said casing and carrying said switch.. said switch being separable from said plunger y upon removal oi said base.

. CHARLES E. m 

